Ruby Sparks (2012)
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 166
Fresh: 131 | Rotten: 35
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 29 | Rotten: 11
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 32,215
My Rating
Movie Info
Calvin (Dano) is a young novelist who achieved phenomenal success early in his career but is now struggling with his writing - as well as his romantic life. Finally, he makes a breakthrough and creates a character named Ruby who inspires him. When Calvin finds Ruby (Kazan), in the flesh, sitting on his couch about a week later, he is completely flabbergasted that his words have turned into a living, breathing person. -- (C) Fox Searchlight
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Cast
-
Paul Dano
Calvin, Calvin Weir-Fie... -
Zoe Kazan
Ruby, Ruby Sparks -
Elliott Gould
Dr. Rosenthal -
Chris Messina
Harry -
Annette Bening
Gertrude -
Antonio Banderas
Mort -
Steve Coogan
Langdon Tharp -
Alia Shawkat
Mabel -
Aasif Mandvi
Cyrus Modi -
Toni Trucks
Susie -
Deborah Ann Woll
Lila -
Jane Anne Thomas
Saskia -
John F. Beach
Adam -
Eleanor Seigler
Mandi -
Emma Julia Jacobs
Party Goer at Langdon's -
Wallace Langham
Warren -
Rightor Doyle
Party Goer 1 - Hammer -
Eden Brolin
Party Goer 2 - Hammer -
Michael Silverblatt
Michael Silverblatt -
Mary Jo Deschanel
Female Professor -
Kai Lennox
Sort of Weird Guy -
Ole Olofson
Older Dude -
Jack Levinson
Party Goer 2 - Book Rel... -
China Jesusita Shavers
Party Goer 1 - Book Rel... -
Casey Genton
Busboy -
Michael Berry Jr.
Silverlake Passerby -
Lindsay Fishkin
Box Office Teller -
Claudia Bestor
Lecture Curator -
Oscar and Meyer
Scotty the Dog -
Steeve Coogan
Langdon Tharp
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Ruby Sparks Trailer & Photos
All Critics (166) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (132) | Rotten (35) | DVD (2)
Sometimes it's worth surrendering to cinematic enchantments, and Ruby Sparks makes a pretty good case for its own magic.
Top CriticSure it's been done before -- man brings ideal woman to life -- but not quite like Ruby Sparks. And that sets this film up to be a smart and romantic low-key comedy that goes beyond expectations.
If the result feels like a Pinocchio story that spends too much time with Geppetto, or a takedown of narcissism that never breaks free of what it's critiquing, Dano nonetheless makes Calvin compelling company.
Kazan winds up indulging in the very wish-fulfillment she initially sets out to deconstruct.
Ruby Sparks flirts with preciousness and has less fun with its premise than it could have, but that's because it's actually a gently touching metaphorical drama about the real essence of love.
Ruby Sparks might have been more fun if Cal were written to be expansive instead of a worrywart in the middle-aged Matthew Broderick mode.
Directed by the team behind the equally quirky-but-heartwarming Little Miss Sunshine, it's never quite the biting satire you may expect, aiming rather for a Michel Gondry vibe.
It's a refreshing take for a rom-com, and when you add in a healthy dose of humour, it makes for an enjoyable and intelligent treat.
The hit and miss nature of Ruby Sparks is a surprise given it's from the same duo that brought us Little Miss Sunshine.
Ruby Sparks feels like the best Woody Allen movie Woody Allen never made.
Screenwriter/actress Kazan's theory seems to have been that if she's going to write herself a part, she might as well make it a crackerjack one.
Even with the draggy pacing, though, the actors and the central idea are so good that Dayton and Faris never lose us completely.
It tackles the idea that people in a relationship will often try to remake the other person in their image. Some of the twists are more obvious than others, but it has just enough charm (mostly from Kazan herself) to skate by.
It may be directed by the pair that gave us "Little Miss Sunshine," but what makes this one work is writer Zoe Kazan, who doubles as the female lead.
far too derivative of other angsty independent romances that it failed to keep my attention
Displaying a self-confidence that would put Muhammad Ali to shame, Kazan has cast herself as her real-life boyfriend's fantasy woman.
A sprightly, slightly twisted take on the romcom genre.
The movie's funny for the first half-hour. But thereafter it stumbles like someone trying to find their way out of a hall of mirrors.
The picture offers worrying commentary on male stereotypes of femininity and on the gender's domineering tendencies.
[B]arely distinguishable from other similar tales of young men who need a schooling in the realities of not being a selfish jerk, with one glaring exception: ... this one is all about teaching Calvin that -- spoiler! -- women are people.
Audience Reviews for Ruby Sparks
Super Reviewer
This film is one of the many reasons I love Independent films. They always bring fresh and unique scripts to the screen. I can't wait to see what else Kazan does in the future.
Now about the movie; It's a good look at how both men and women dream up the perfect person think they have found them and then get disappointed when they find a flaw. Once the flaw is found we try to change the person into what we want them to be. This is a perfect film to show that it never works. You have to love the person complete with flaws and all. We are who we are and we shouldn't have to feel the need to change one another and maybe if we just started accepting the flaws and imperfections within each other then maybe more relationships would last. Too many spend so much time trying to change their better halves instead of just enjoying the time and company of them. So let this film be a lesson to us all.
Super Reviewer
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- Calvin: Oh... I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around the reality of this situation.
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- Ruby: I miss you already, Ruby!
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- Harry: Mindcest?
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- Ruby: I 'm not your child!
- Ruby: You don't get to decide what I do.
- Calvin: Wanna bet?
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- Calvin: I'm sorry for every word I wrote to change you, I'm sorry for so many things.
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- Mort: You manifested a women with your mind.
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Foreign Titles
- Ruby Sparks - Meine fabelhafte Freundin (DE)
- Elle s'appelle Ruby (FR)
